The hearing was a result of continued reports of inadequate and delayed mental health care treatment from the VA. In one example, Daniel Williams, a former Army Ranger, was experiencing suicidal tendencies upon returning home from Iraq, and due in part to an insufficient response from local VA personnel, his distress spiraled into a complete mental breakdown.

Williams severe post-traumatic stress culminated with him placing a loaded gun in his mouth. His life was saved only by the malfunctioning weapon. Even after this incident, the VA failed to provide the mental care sought by Williams.

The Department of Veterans Affairs must provide veterans suffering with the invisible and psychological wounds of war the tools to recuperate, adjust, and thrive when they return home, said Sen. Brown. The VA has many valuable programs to further this goal, but has unfortunately not sufficiently provided our heroes the mental care they deserve. These complete breakdowns in communications between VA personnel and our heroes are absolutely unacceptable.

The VA is seriously screwed up. Just over a month ago, there was a Congressional hearing into why hundreds of veterans were being sexually assaulted at VA facilities and why the VA were deliberately ignoring these victims.

These VA bureaucrats and mental health specialists are once again deliberately ignoring America's veterans.

Why? My guess is that these same hypocrites who purport to have the veterans' best interests at heart are only out to further their careers at the expense of mentally ill veterans.

At what price, though?

How many veterans are going to commit suicide before the VA bureaucrats and mental health specialists are held accountable?

The VA mental health slogan is "It takes the courage and strength of a warrior to ask for help".

However, the VA internal culture is to ignore every veteran in distress!

Shame on every public official who gives lip service to help veterans and then quietly waits for the public outrage to subside.

Well, I won't forget the injustices the VA is doing to veterans throughout America, and neither should you!